Cambridge InsideOut - Apr 30, 2019

6) On the horizon – rent control proposed at State House (H.1316) and HD.1100

Mar 27, 2019 – A few words on the "Overlay" proposal

Personally, this Overlay proposal obliterates over 35 years of what changes could be expected around where I live, and I don’t live in the upper crust part of town. The limiting factor has been the floor area ratio (FAR) – 1.0 for commercial and 0.75 for residential. I have always lived with the possibility that a higher building could appear next door, but that the footprint of the building would have to be smaller and additional setbacks would create a little breathing room between the buildings. That seemed like a reasonable expectation – one that I could easily live with.

During the time I have owned my triple-decker I negotiated with one neighbor so that a small extension would have a roof line that allowed light to continue to get to my first floor apartment. When the neighboring building changed hands and they wanted to add air conditioning units on the roof, I negotiated to ensure that they would be located far enough from my windows so that the added sound would be acceptable. These are the kinds of negotiations that happen when buildings are at or somewhat above the allowable density. Through it all I maintained very reasonable rents to all of my tenants since 1985.

If this Overlay proposal is approved, a new owner could build straight up to a height taller than my building with no setback whatsoever from the property line. Furthermore, the building could cover almost the entire lot yielding a density between 3 and 4 times what is allowed today. No sunlight whatsoever would get to my building. I would have no rights whatsoever to object.

Do I take this personally? Yes. If this were to happen I would likely look for another place to live after being here for over 40 years. So I’m looking now at the few potentially reasonable city councillors to step in and prevent this from happening. If adding to our already high percentage of subsidized housing units is your priority, you should really find a way to do this that doesn’t involve throwing me and others under the bus. – Robert Winters

Amateur Hour - Items of interest at the April 29, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

Amateur Hour The Nine will meet at the appointed hour on Monday to go through the usual ritualistic motions and possibly assist in the proliferation of cannabis retailers as they redefine Cambridge retail. Soon they'll take up the question of how to replace existing privately-owned residential housing with "social housing" where you have to apply to a City department to access the new dense-pack housing units. Honestly, I don't even know these councillors any more.

Here are some items that may get some attention (or not) - with minimal comment:

Manager's Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $24,000 from the General Fund City Clerk Salary and Wages account to the General Fund City Clerk Other Ordinary Maintenance account to pay for costs associated with required legal advertising for legal notices, hearings and petitions through the end of the fiscal year.

A few years ago the Massachusetts Legislature considered a bill that would have replaced the requirement that legal notices be placed in "a paper of general circulation" with alternatives like web listings. I don't know whatever became of that proposal but I imagine it would have removed one of the more significant revenue streams for local newspapers.

Manager's Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Council Order No. O-10 of Apr 22, 2019 regarding questions related to the draft Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance posed in Communication and Reports from Other City Officers No. 2 of Apr 22, 2019. [Solicitor's Responses]

I hope the councillors pay attention to the advice of the City Solicitor - because watching them write regulations about things they don't understand is like watching kids play on the monkey bars in the school playground. Maybe they should draft an Affordable Cannabis Overlay next.

Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-127, regarding draft zoning for urban farming; Awaiting Report Item Number 19-23, regarding allowing lodging houses in Residential A1, A2 and B Zoning Districts; and Awaiting Report Item Number 19-28, regarding a timetable for updating retail and small business components of the zoning table of uses.

Unfinished Business #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the proposed Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance. [On or after Apr 22, 2019 the question comes on passage to be ordained]

See above.

Unfinished Business #7. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Mar 27, 2019 to discuss a zoning petition filed by Melissa and Christopher Grippo et al to amend the Zoning Ordinance by adding at the end of section 5.30.11 a sentence that reads: “notwithstanding the foregoing, in Industry B District, a hotel use (Section 4.31.2) shall be governed by the section number (4.0) for purposes of determining the maximum ratio of floor area to lot area. [On or after Apr 22, 2019 the question comes on passage to be ordained]

Order #2. City Council endorsement of Fossil Free Divest Harvard. Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan

Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Apr 3, 2019 to discuss the zoning petition filed by Stephen R. Karp, Trustee of Cambridge Side Galleria Trust to add a new Section 13.100 to Article 13 and to amend the zoning map to add a new PUD-8 District Overlay.

Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Chair of the Transportation & Public Utilities Committee, for a public hearing held on Apr 3, 2019 to discuss Applications and Petitions # 4 of Mar 4, 2019, submitted by the Cambridge Taxi Drivers Owners Association on whether additional regulations on Transit Network Companies (TNC) could be implemented in Cambridge.

The medallion owners thought they had an exclusive cartel and they got burned by Transit Network Companies who exploit marginally competent drivers for fun and big profits. How's that disruption working for you?

Committee Report #3. A communication was received from Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor E. Denise Simmons, Co-Chair and Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui Co-Chair of the Housing Committee for a public hearing held on Mar 20, 2019 to discuss the Affordable Housing Overlay District.

Lotsa people talking and nobody listening - solving problems symbolically, not actually. This is what democracy looks like? - Robert Winters

Comments?

Living on a Budget (A Big Budget) - April 22, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

As the councillors play their fiddles and cannabis outlets poke up through the ground like spring crocuses, the Manager will deliver the FY2020 Budget on Monday. Two departmental budgets appear to have vanished - General Services and Weights & Measures. The full budget details won't be available until the actual meeting, but the summaries are available now.

Here are some agenda items that piqued my interest (grouped as appropriate). The agenda is pretty full on its own, so I'll keep my comments to a minimum:

Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2020 submitted budget and appropriation orders.

The Bottom Line is that the total proposed FY2020 Budget is $665,550,940. That's up 6.9% over last year's FY2019 budget of $622,477,255. You may want to take a longer view at the multi-year comparisons.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a memorandum regarding the School Department FY20 Budget. [At the Regular Meeting of Apr 2, 2019, the School Committee voted that the General Fund Budget of the Cambridge Public Schools be adopted in the sum of $201,770,255 for FY20.]

That's a 5.6% increase over last year's School Department budget.

Manager's Agenda #2 through 9: The Annual Big Loan Orders (appropriation and authorization to borrow) for:

#2 - $800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to entrance doors, upgrade of energy management software, replacement of analog phone system with the voice over internet protocol (VOIP), and the replacement of an emergency generator.

#3 - $22,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements at the Fire Station Headquarters Building located at 491 Broadway.

#4 - $4,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.

#5 - $20,500,000 to provide funds for various water pollution abatement projects, including construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Alewife area.

#6 - $4,000,000 to provide design and construction of Eliot Street between JFK St. and Brattle St. which is a continuation of the Harvard Square Kiosk and Plaza and Surface Enhancement project.

#7 - $10,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements at City Hall.

#8 - $3,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan.

#9 - $10,000,000 to provide funds for the design and reconstruction of the Tobin School building.

In addition to the Operating Budget, the City also each year seeks authorization to borrow significant amounts for various capital projects (presumably at very favorable interest rates thanks to our multiple AAA bond ratings). This year's loan authorizations total $74,300,000.

Manager's Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following person as a member of the Grand Junction Multi-use Path Design Project Working Group: Joseph Aiello, Rebecca Bowie, Christopher Cassa, Carlone Lowenthal, Bill McAvinney, Sarabrent McCoy, Miguel Perez-Luna, Jose-Luis Rojas, Dalila Salcedo, Katrina Sousa, Florence Toussaint, Jason Alves, Nicholas Dard, Tom Evans, Amy Flax, Kathryn Lachelt Brown, Tony Lechuga, Brad Pillen, Michelle Lower, Diana Prideaux-Brune, Robert Ricchi and John Sanzone.

Manager's Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-9, requesting that the City determine what facilities, parking changes, and other improvements to the pavement conditions are possible to make Cambridge’s stretch of Webster Avenue a complete street.

Manager's Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt the City Council Zoning Petition to amend Section 4.22 "Accessory Apartments," following further staff review and improvements to petition language.

Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Apr 2, 2019 to continue discussion on a petition filed by the City Council to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge in section 4.22 to allow for a special permit for the alteration of a single, two-family or accessory structure in existence as of January 2019 to provide one accessory apartment, if appropriate conditions are met.

Manager's Agenda #18. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Numbers 18-144 regarding a report on eviction data, and 19-10, regarding a report sharing information to assist in analyzing displacement.

Communications & Reports #5. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez transmitting a memorandum from Councillor Siddiqui, transmitting the submission of the Mayor's Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Tenant Displacement Mar 19, 2019 meeting minutes.

Manager's Agenda #19. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-127, regarding draft zoning for urban farming; Awaiting Report Item Number 19-23, regarding allowing lodging houses in Residential A1, A2 and B Zoning Districts; and Awaiting Report Item Number 19-28, regarding a timetable for updating retail and small business components of the zoning table of uses.

Manager's Agenda #20. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-37, regarding the possibility of expanding the City of Boston's intergenerational housing pilot to Cambridge.

Manager's Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Central Square Business Improvement District (BID).

Applications & Petitions #2. A petition was filed by Kenneth S. Barron, 614 Massachusetts Avenue, et al property owners, pursuant to MGL Chapter 400, petitioning that a Business Improvement District (BID) be established for the Central Square Business Improvement District.

Communications & Reports #4. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from the Assessors Department, transmitting certification regarding the petition from Kenneth S. Barron, 614 Massachusetts Avenue, et al property owners, pursuant to MGL Chapter 40O, petitioning that a Business Improvement District (BID) be established for the Central Square Business Improvement District.

This has been discussed for over two decades and it has finally arrived. I should really buy someone a beer (or better yet they should buy me a beer). Special gratitude goes out to Michael Monestime, Executive Director of the Central Square Business Association for bringing this from theory to reality. Additional gratitude goes out to all the Central Square property owners for believing that the future can be better with a little cooperation and vision.

Charter Right #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a memorandum regarding the update on the search process to hire a new City Clerk to replace Donna Lopez when she retires.

Order #9. Appointment of Paula Crane as Interim City Clerk in the event that a City Clerk has not been named in time to begin service on June 1, 2019. Vice Mayor Devereux

Unfinished Business #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the proposed Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance. [ON OR AFTER APR 22, 2019 THE QUESTION COMES ON PASSAGE TO BE ORDAINED] [Attachment A][Attachment B]

Committee Report #3. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Apr 11, 2019 to discuss a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code to add a new Chapter 5.50 entitled “Cannabis Business Permitting”.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from Councillor Kelley, transmitting a memorandum regarding Cannabis Business Ordinance Follow Up Inquiry.

Communications & Reports #6. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting a memorandum regarding proposed amendments to the Cannabis Business Ordinance.

Perhaps the 2018-2019 City Council will one day be remembered for making Cambridge the Cannabis Capital of Massachusetts. I suppose they had to do something to look busy.

Order #1. City Council support for H.692 extending voting rights to certain noncitizens. Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan

Order #5. City Council support of the EMPOWER Act (H.720/S.389: An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range). Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan

Order #6. City Council support of H.78: A proposal for a legislative amendment to the constitution to provide for no excuse absentee voting. Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan

Variations of these pop up every few years - generally when some politicians are desperate for attention. Of the three Orders listed above the only one that has merit (and a lot of merit) is the one calling for "no excuse absentee voting". This will require a state constitutional amendment to make it so, but this is by far the best way to increase flexibility in when registered voters can cast their ballots.

In my view citizenship equals the right to vote to elect your government. Non-citizens are welcome to be residents and to pay taxes and receive services, but voting to determine the government should be for actual citizens of the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the City of Cambridge. As for lowering the voting age to 16 or 17, my feeling is that you have to draw the line somewhere, and maybe that line is somewhat arbitrary, but age 18 seems about right. Even if there was a strong movement to adjust that age downward, such a change would have to be uniform across the Commonwealth or across the country. It should not vary from town to town. Fundamentally, it's just populist horse pucky.

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to provide an update from Eversource and any other relevant City departments regarding the finance, health and safety, building design and the long-term electricity needs that was requested by the City Council before the construction of a substation on Fulkerson Street in East Cambridge. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui

Order #3. That the City Council go on record in opposition to the site owned by Eversource on Fulkerson Street to have a substation and that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to urge Eversource to reconsider its acquisition of the property. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Mallon, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui

I have my own issues with Eversource, but from these Orders you would almost think that nobody in East Cambridge or Kendall Square uses electricity or that the demand is dropping. (It isn't.)

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from Councillor Kelley, transmitting a memorandum regarding CPSD, the Achievement Gap, and a Review of 8th Grade Math MCAS Results.

Various iterations of the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge School Department have been talking and talking about "The Achievement Gap" for decades, and all that talk has accomplished little. Perhaps at some point they should readjust their focus on simply doing the best possible job teaching and motivating students and just let the chips fall where they may. I suppose, however, that this is just not the way we do things in Cambridge. - Robert Winters

Comments?

Apr 3, 2019 - New City Council candidates emerging from winter hibernation

The incumbents (assuming, for the moment that they all seek reelection) will be joined by a number of challengers. Here's the list so far:

Several other candidates who ran in 2017 are expected to run again in 2019. They'll be added as confirmed.

CIVIC CALENDAR

Mon, Apr 29

5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Apr 30

12:00pm The City Council's Economic Development & University Relations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss a Cambridge vacant property registration ordinance. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30pm First meeting of the working group for the Grand Junction Multi-use Path design project (Location TBD)

5:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (1st Floor Meeting Room, 51 Inman St.)

I. MINUTES

II. REPORTS

1. Executive Director's Report

2. Assistant Director's Report

3. Commissioners' Reports

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

IV. ACTION AGENDA

Old Business

2019 Annual City Census

New Business

• Discussion on Modifying the Design of the City Council and School Committee Municipal Election Ballots

• Annual Organizational Meeting

6:30pm Planning Board meeting (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

General Business

1. Update from the Community Development Department

2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts

Public Hearings

6:30pm Ware Street Innovation Space Overlay District Zoning Petition
Zoning petition by Verizon New England Inc., to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge by creating a new overlay district entitled Ware Street Innovation Space Overlay District and to amend Article 20.000 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by creating a section entitled Ware Street Innovation Space Overlay District. (Materials)

General Business

3. PB# 303 – MIT Kendall Square "SoMa" Headhouse – Informational Update (Materials)

Wed, May 1

9:00am City Council's Finance Committee hearing to discuss proposed FY20 City Budget (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

The Committee on Finance will conduct public hearings on the city and school budgets covering the fiscal period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

These hearings will be held in the Sullivan Chamber, City Hall, broadcast on the municipal cable station and will follow the schedule outlined below. The proposed budget will include recommendations from the City Manager concerning capital and operating budgets.

All interested individuals are invited to attend and be heard and/or submit written testimony. Those wishing to testify may do so either at the beginning or conclusion of each day’s hearings. Copies of the budget may be viewed at the branch libraries and will be available at the Budget Office at City Hall on or after April 22, 2018. Additionally, the budget will be available on the Internet through the City Home Page: www.cambridgema.gov. [Complete schedule with Budget Book references][multi-year comparisons]

Mayor’s Office Executive - Leadership Diversity Domestic & Gender Based Violence Prevention Initiative Equity and Inclusion Public Information Office Tourism City Council	City Clerk Employee Benefits General Services Finance Admin. Budget Personnel Purchasing Auditing	Assessing Treasury/Revenue Information Technology Law Emergency Communications Public Celebrations Reserve Animal Commission	Electrical Fire Department Police Department Traffic, Parking & Transportation Inspectional Services License Commission Election Commission
* Date changes for individual departments may occur. The public is invited to attend and be heard. These hearings will be cablecast live on Municipal Television. Budgets pulled by councillors for discussion in bold.
Department-by-Department Budget Summaries: FY1992 through FY2020 (some interpretation required) Department-by-Department Full-Time Positions: FY1992 through FY2020 (with total employee counts back to 1981)

5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss a petition to amend the Municipal Code in Chapter 8.16 entitled “Noise Control” by deleting sections 16.081 through 16.081.7 to prohibit the use of leaf blowers in the City of Cambridge. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30pm Transit Advisory Committee meeting (Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)

7:00-8:30pm Evenings with Experts - A Grassland Restoration Tale of Weeds, Wildlife, and Renewal (Cambridge Main Public Library)

Presenter: Jenna Webster, Senior Designer, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. Restoring weed-dominated habitats comes with many complex challenges and often involves difficult tradeoffs. This process is even more complicated in public landscapes with diverse constituencies. Join landscape designer Jenna Webster to learn how Larry Weaner Landscape Associates negotiated these challenges in their restoration planning for a 100-acre grassland at Croton Point Park in New York. Located atop a capped landfill, this site provides vital habitat for imperiled bird species. The Park’s popularity and complex history led Jenna and her team to seek stakeholder input, synthesize crowd-sourced ecological data, and utilize scientific research— creating a thoughtful restoration plan that is now under construction. This case study gives us valuable lessons for land restoration on sites both large and small, and particularly for protecting specialized habitat used by native wildlife.

Jenna Webster is co-curator of the New Directions in the American Landscape conference, and teaches in the Ecological Gardening Certificate program at the Mt. Cuba Center.

Thurs, May 2

6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission meeting (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.)

Sat, May 4

12:30pm-2:00pm Mid-Cambridge PLANT SWAP (Fayette Park, near the corner of Broadway and Fayette St.)

Bring anything you’d like to share. No need for elegant packaging, but please do write down the names of plants. We expect to have perennials, seedlings, seeds, indoor plants, catalogs, pots, and lots of "whatever." Feel free to just come, chat with neighbors, talk gardening.

Mon, May 6

5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

6:00pm Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (MCNCDC) meeting (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

Tues, May 7

9:00am City Council's Finance Committee hearing to discuss proposed FY20 City Budget (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

The Committee on Finance will conduct public hearings on the city and school budgets covering the fiscal period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

Cambridge Health Alliance Public Works Water Community Development Peace Commission / Police Review & Advisory Board	Historical Commission Cable TV Debt Service Library Human Services	Women’s Commission Human Rights Commission Veterans Services MWRA Cherry Sheet	City Overview Financial Summaries Revenue Public Investment
* Date changes for individual departments may occur. The public is invited to attend and be heard. These hearings will be cablecast live on Municipal Television.
Department-by-Department Budget Summaries: FY1992 through FY2020 (some interpretation required) Department-by-Department Full-Time Positions: FY1992 through FY2020 (with total employee counts back to 1981)

6:00pm School Committee meeting (Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)

Note 1: There will be a Hearing on State School Choice at the beginning of this Regular Meeting.

Note 2: The School Committee will entertain a motion to convene in Executive Session immediately following this Regular Meeting in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, for the purpose of discussing strategy for contract negotiations with non-union personnel (Superintendent).

Wed, May 8

8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

8:30pm School Committee Attendance Violation Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee meeting (School Committee Conference Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the CRLS Attendance Violation Policy. It is anticipated that this meeting will end no later than 10:30am.

3:00pm License Commission Public Hearing (Lombardi Bldg., 831 Mass. Ave., Basement Conference Room)

5:30-7:30pm Bicycle Committee meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)

6:00pm City Council's Finance Committee hearing to discuss proposed FY20 School Department Budget (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Thurs, May 9

9:00am City Council's Finance Committee hearing to discuss proposed FY20 City Budget - if necessary (Sullivan Chamber)

5:30-7:00pm Commission for Persons with Disabilities meeting (51 Inman St., 2nd Floor Conference Room)

5:30pm Mayor's Arts Task Force meeting (Location TBD)

Mon, May 13

4:00pm 2019 City of Cambridge Scholarship Awards Ceremony (Sullivan Chamber)

5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)

6:00pm Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

Tues, May 14

10:30am The City Council's Human Services & Veterans Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the results of the City Manager’s Opioid Task Force Report and the recommendations that could be implemented to reduce the harmful effects of the opioid crisis in the City of Cambridge. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, May 15

5:30pm Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Board Meeting (Police Station, 125 Sixth St., First Floor Community Room)

[Meeting Agenda and supporting materials]

6:00pm Peace Commission meeting (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

Mon, May 20

5:30pm City Council meeting - Budget Adoption (Sullivan Chamber)

5:30pm Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

Tues, May 21

1:00pm The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the “City of Cambridge getting to Net Zero Action Plan: Fiscal year 2018 progress report “and to receive a general update on the Net Zero Action Plan. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30pm Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tenant Displacement meeting (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

Wed, May 22

12:00pm The City Council's Civic Unity Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the Massachusetts Equal Pay Law that was enacted in 2018 – What employees, supervisors, and City Leadership should know, what are the best practices, and how metrics must be established to ensure compliance with this new law. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

2:00pm The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the Eversource site on Fulkerson Street and a potential expansion project at this site. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

3:00pm License Commission Public Hearing (Lombardi Bldg., 831 Mass. Ave., Basement Conference Room)

Thurs, May 23

6:00pm LGBTQ+ meeting (Windsor St. Health Center, 119 Windsor St.)

6:00-8:00pm Pedestrian Committee Meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)

Tues, May 28

5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a petition received from Verizon New England, Inc. to amend the zoning map of the City of Cambridge by creating a new Overlay Zoning district entitled “Ware Street Innovation Space Overlay District” encompassing 10 Ware Street and to amend article 20.000 of the Zoning Ordinance by creating a section entitled “Ware Street Innovation Space Overlay District”. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, May 29

5:30pm The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will conduct a joint public hearing with the Climate Resilience Task Force to receive an update on the task forces progress to date and to receive input and feedback. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm Police Review and Advisory Board meeting (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

Sat, June 1

11:00am-6:00pm 40th Annual Cambridge Arts River Festival (Central Square Cultural District - Mass. Ave. from Prospect St. to Sidney St. and beyond)

For the 40th anniversary of the Cambridge Arts River Festival, we'll be bringing the river to the Central Square Cultural District. The move from the East Cambridge waterfront into the heart of the city celebrates the state's recent recertification of Cultural District, the work in progress for the area to be identified as a Business Improvement District, and the seven new murals in the neighborhood thanks to the Central Square Mural Project. This year’s community celebration of the arts promises to be a big SPLASH, with music, food, immersive art experiences, and more. Learn more: cambridgeartscouncil.org/riverfestival

Meeting Date	Project Address	Proposed Project	Developer/Contact
May 13, 2019	110 Fawcett Street	Marijuana Retailer *	Bert Vining, J.D., Revolutionary Clinics
May 10, 2019	1908 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer	Porter Square Remedies LLC; Water J. Sullivan, Jr.
May 9, 2019	1686 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer	Arish Halani
May 7, 2019	51 New Street	Marijuana Retailer	Binoj Pradhan, PH Organics LLC
May 2, 2019	86 Kirkland St	Marijuana Retailer	Binoj Pradhan, PH Organics LLC
Apr 30, 2019	1001 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer *	Sean D. Hope
Apr 29, 2019	31 Church Street	Marijuana Retailer	Leah Samura
Apr 26, 2019	567 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer	Timothy Flaherty
Apr 25, 2019	580 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer	Sean D. Hope
Apr 24, 2019	541 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer *	Bert Vining, J.D.
Apr 12, 2019	36 JFK Street	Marijuana Retailer	Adam F Braillard, Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Feb 7, 2019	701-703B Mt. Auburn St	Marijuana Retailer	Michael Pires, KG Collective, LLC
Dec 20, 2018	231 Third Street	Marijuana Dispensary	Michael Drayer
Nov 7, 2018	1001 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Retailer	Sean D. Hope
Oct 5, 2018	259-261 Cambridge St	Marijuana Dispensary	Life Essence, Inc., Walter J. Sullivan, Jr.
Sept 27, 2018	200 Msgr O'Brien Hwy	Marijuana Dispensary	Ascend Mass, LLC
Aug 27, 2018	98 Winthrop Street	Marijuana Retailer *	Healthy Pharms, Inc., Paul Overgaag
July 16, 2018	541 Mass. Ave.	Marijuana Dispensary	Bert Vining, VP, Revolutionary Clinics
June 15 & 28, 2017	1385 Cambridge St	Marijuana Dispensary	Commonwealth Alternative Care
Nov 30, 2016	98 Winthrop Street	Marijuana Dispensary	Healthy Pharms, Inc., Paul Overgaag
Oct 26, 2016	110 Fawcett Street	Marijuana Dispensary	CAS Foundation, Inc., Bert Vining

Name	Address (Nov 2018)	Birth Year	Notes
Adriane Musgrave	48 Haskell St., 02140	1985	ran in 2017
Charles Franklin	162 Hampshire St. #1R, 02139	1992	filed March 5
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler	19 Trowbridge St #6, 02138	1992	filed March 11
Nicola Williams	8 Brewer St. #5, 02138	1963	filed March 12
Ben Simon	67 Bishop Allen Dr. #2, 02139	1984	filed April 2

Mar 27, 2019 – A few words on the "Overlay" proposal

Amateur Hour - Items of interest at the April 29, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

Living on a Budget (A Big Budget) - April 22, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

Acapulco Gold Rush
You wanted cannabis? Welcome to the future of Cambridge retail.

Apr 3, 2019 - New City Council candidates emerging from winter hibernation

**Featured recent stories in the Cambridge Chronicle (the paper of record):**

Mon, Apr 29

Tues, Apr 30

Thurs, May 2

Tues, May 14

Tues, May 21

Thurs, May 23

Mar 27, 2019 – A few words on the "Overlay" proposal

Amateur Hour - Items of interest at the April 29, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

Living on a Budget (A Big Budget) - April 22, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting

Acapulco Gold Rush You wanted cannabis? Welcome to the future of Cambridge retail.

Apr 3, 2019 - New City Council candidates emerging from winter hibernation

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Mon, Apr 29

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Acapulco Gold Rush
You wanted cannabis? Welcome to the future of Cambridge retail.

**Featured recent stories in the Cambridge Chronicle (the paper of record):**